BRITISH OFFICER KILLED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 751, 26 August 1929, Page 1

BRITISH OFFICER KILLED

Slaughter of Jews TROOPS AND WARSHIPS SENT (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Received 10 a.m. LONDON, Sunday. A BRITISH immigration officer has been killed in Jerusalem as a result of the rioting which has broken out there between Arabs and Jews. The casualty list is now believed to be nineteen. The Chief Rabbi of Palestine, Dr. Kook, has sent the following cable to Dr. Hertz, Chief Rabbi of England: “Palestine Jewry in greatest danger, rush help.” The Jewish agency’s delayed censored message states that a British immigration officer of the Palestine Government, named Best, has been killed repelling an assault on Qivatshoul, a Jewish suburb of Jerusalem. Two Oxford undergraduate visitors have been seriously injured and three wounded Jews died in the hospital. The riots have spread to Hebron, where several have been killed and injured. During the night Arabs burned the labour settlement of Gdudavadah and are looting the suburbs of Jerusalem.

The trouble was the outcome of relent incidents at the TVailing Wall. The Admiralty announces that the Battleship Barham and the cruiser Sussex are to go to Palestine from Malta at the request of the High Commissioner. Sir J. R. Chancellor. The War Office states that 50 Britfih troops have been dispatched from Egypt to Jerusalem by air and a composite battalion will leave there by train tonight. In Cairo it is rumoured that altogether four warships have been ordered to Palestine in connection with the rioting. Also it is reported that a Cairo battalion is to be sent. Jerusalem is now under martial law. A 6 o’clock curfew has been enforced and a censorship of outward foreign telegrams has been proclaimed. Those killed in the riots comprise the Immigration official, 12 Jews and G Arabs. The injured include 107 Arabs and an English Public Works official. An airplane is flying over Jerusalem In the expectation of further trouble, beeause today is the Jewish Sabbath. Arab demonstrators are parading the streets. The gravity of the situation is indicated by the fact that directly the Prime Minister, Mr. MacDonald, arrived in London today from Scotland lie received the heads of the fighting departments, Mr. A. V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Tom Shaw, Secretary of State for War, and Lord Thomson, Secretary of State for Air. The foreigners in Jerusalem are reported to be relieved at the news that British warships are on the way to Palestine. A late message from Jerusalem says a group of armed Arabs attacked the Jewish village of Motza and killed six of the inhabitants. All the newspapers have suspended publication. The American Consul at Jerusalem has promised that a warship will repatriate Americans now in Palestine. AMERICAN AID SOUGHT CONSUL ASKED TO CALL WARSHIP {Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) WASHINGTON, Sunday. Reports from Jerusalem state that

American Jews in that city have asked the United States Consul to summon an American naval vessel to help restore order there. The State Department says the Consul has reported that the British authorities have taken every adequate measure to deal with the situation. It is felt that Britain is fully equipped to deal with the situation and considerable doubt is expressed as to whether the United States Government will see fit to send a warship. TROOPS FROM EGYPT SEVERAL AMERICANS WOUNDED WIDESPREAD LOOTING (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. noon. JERUSALEM Sunday. Six hundred British troops have arrived from Egypt, and the authorities in Egypt have decided to send an entire battalion for temporary duty. Serious outbreaks have occurred at Hebron, where, according to latest figures, 45 Jews were killed, and 47 wounded. The killed include two rabbis. It is also rumoured that the wounded include a number of American citizens studying Yiddish. There has heen widespread looting in the new, fashionable Jewish suburb of Talpioth, where invaluable books and priceless manuscripts have been destroyed. Jews situated in an Arab neighbourhood quitted their homes, after which Arabs looted and burned them, also a synagogue. Arabs attacked the Jewish colony of Emekarazim, murdering an entire family of six. Foreign consuls in Jerusalem have submitted protests to the Palestine Government, insisting that energetic steps be taken to restore order. The Government has warned the Grand Mullah that he will be held responsible for further rioting. It has invited Arab leaders to a conference, simultaneously warning them to suppress all disorder.